Shloka 57

Paramparā (Transmission), Rudra’s Viṣṇu-Dhyāna, and the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s Origin-Impulse

Devanagari script

यथाहं कीर्तनीयो ऽथ तथा त्वं गरुडात्मना / मां ध्यात्वा पक्षिमुख्येदं पुराणं गद गारुडम्

Transliteration

yathāhaṃ kīrtanīyo 'tha tathā tvaṃ garuḍātmanā / māṃ dhyātvā pakṣimukhyedaṃ purāṇaṃ gada gāruḍam

Translation

„Wie ich zu preisen und zu gedenken bin, so auch du, o Garuda-beseelter. Indem du über mich meditierst, o bester der Vögel, verkünde dieses Purāṇa — das Garuḍa-Purāṇa.“

Word by Word

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (Correlative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमानार्थक/सहसम्बन्ध (correlative: 'as')

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुष, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kīrtanīyaḥ: to be praised/recited
• kīrtanīyaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kīrt (धातु) + anīya (अनीयर्)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/अनीयर्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘कीर्तयितव्यः’ (to be praised/recited)

• atha: then; now
• atha: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/अनन्तरार्थक (particle: 'then/now')

• tathā: so; likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (Correlative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सहसम्बन्ध (correlative: 'so')

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), प्रथमा, एकवचन

• garuḍātmanā: by/with Garuḍa-nature
• garuḍātmanā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garuḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (garuḍa-ātmā = 'having Garuḍa as self/through Garuḍa-nature')

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुष, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• dhyātvā: having meditated (on)
• dhyātvā: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhyai (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: कृदन्त-अव्यय (absolutive/क्त्वा), पूर्वक्रिया (having meditated)

• pakṣimukhya: O chief of birds
• pakṣimukhya: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣin (प्रातिपदिक) + mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (pakṣiṇāṃ mukhyaḥ)

• idam: this
• idam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• purāṇam: Purāṇa
• purāṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• gada: speak; recite
• gada: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gad (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातुः √gad (वदने) ‘वद’

• gāruḍam: Gāruḍa (pertaining to Garuḍa)
• gāruḍam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gāruḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘पुराणम्’ प्रति

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dhyāna and kīrtana as prerequisites for right proclamation: remembering the Lord empowers sacred teaching.

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā leading to śuddhi and śakti for śāstra-pravacana; īśvara-smaraṇa as the inner support of dharma and knowledge.

Application: Before teaching/reading scripture, perform brief dhyāna on Viṣṇu; cultivate kīrtana/smaraṇa so speech becomes sattvic and beneficial.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.2.56 (promise of renown); Garuda Purana 1.3.1 (paramparā)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of reciting the Garuda Purana in this verse?

The verse frames the Garuda Purana as a sacred proclamation to be spoken with meditation on Vishnu, emphasizing devotional remembrance and authoritative transmission.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it establishes that Garuda’s teaching is grounded in Vishnu-meditation, implying that right knowledge and remembrance of Vishnu guide the spiritual message of the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach scripture study or recitation with focused remembrance (dhyāna) of the Divine and treat the text as a disciplined practice of devotion and ethical alignment.